Conditions / Diabetic & High-Risk Foot Care
Diabetic Foot
Diabetes can affect the nerves and blood supply to the feet, increasing the risk of injury going unnoticed. Regular podiatric assessment and preventative care are central to protecting long-term foot health.
Diabetes can, over time, damage the small blood vessels and peripheral nerves that supply the feet. This can lead to reduced sensation (peripheral neuropathy) and reduced blood flow (peripheral arterial disease) — a combination that means minor injuries, pressure areas or infections can develop and progress without being felt in the way they normally would.
Regular podiatric review is a cornerstone of diabetes care. Early identification of neurovascular changes, skin and nail problems, or areas of high pressure allows preventative steps to be taken before a minor issue becomes a serious one — including, in more advanced cases, a diabetic foot ulcer.
Peripheral Neuropathy
Reduced sensation means cuts, blisters, pressure areas or foreign objects in footwear may go unnoticed until they have become significant.
Peripheral Arterial Disease
Reduced blood flow to the feet slows healing and increases the risk that a minor wound develops into a more serious, harder-to-heal problem.
Foot Deformity
Bunions, claw toes and other structural changes create areas of abnormally high pressure that are more prone to skin breakdown.
Duration of Diabetes
The longer diabetes has been present, and the more variable historic blood glucose control, the higher the cumulative risk to nerve and vascular health.
Previous Ulceration
A history of a foot ulcer significantly increases the risk of a further one, making ongoing preventative review particularly important.
Neurological testing — assessing protective sensation with monofilament and vibration testing
Vascular assessment — palpating pulses and assessing skin colour, temperature and capillary refill
Skin and nail inspection — identifying areas of callus, dryness, fissuring or early skin breakdown
Structural assessment — checking for deformity, pressure areas and pattern of wear in footwear
Risk stratification — classifying your overall foot risk to guide how often you should be reviewed
Care is tailored to your individual level of risk, identified at assessment. For lower-risk patients this may mean an annual review; for higher-risk patients — those with neuropathy, vascular changes or a previous ulcer — more frequent review and closer preventative care is recommended.
If you have diabetes and haven't had a foot check in the last 12 months, or if you notice any new cut, blister, area of redness, swelling, discolouration or wound that isn't healing, book an assessment promptly. With diabetes, injuries that would normally be minor can progress more quickly than expected — early attention makes a significant difference to the outcome.
How often should I have my feet checked?
This depends on your individual risk level, assessed at your first visit. Lower-risk patients are typically reviewed annually, while those with neuropathy, reduced circulation or a history of ulceration are usually seen more frequently.
I can't feel my feet properly — is that normal?
Reduced sensation can be a sign of peripheral neuropathy related to diabetes and is worth assessing promptly, even if it isn't painful. It's precisely this reduced sensation that makes regular checks so important, since injuries may not be felt in the usual way.
Should I cut my own nails and hard skin?
If you have reduced sensation or circulation, we generally recommend having nail and hard skin care carried out by a podiatrist rather than at home, to reduce the risk of an unnoticed injury.
Is this covered by insurance?
Routine diabetic foot care and assessment are typically covered by most major insurers. We work with Bupa, Aviva, WPA and others. See our
insurance page for full details.
Ready to book your diabetic foot check?
Protect your long-term foot health with regular preventative review, tailored to your individual risk.
